ADD, SUBTRACT, MULTIPLY, AND DIVIDE DECIMALS Adding Decimals: You add decimals the same way you add whole numbers BUT you also need to place the decimal in the correct spot. 1 12 .432 + 10 .281 22 .713 Subtracting Decimals: You subtract decimals the same way as you subtract whole numbers BUT you also need to place the decimal in the correct spot. 8 .461 - 6 .140 2 .321 Multiplying Decimals: You also multiply decimals the same way as you multiply whole numbers BUT you also need to place the decimal in the correct spot. When multiplying decimals, the decimals may or may NOT be lined up in the multiplication problem. 4 .23 (2 decimals places) X 1 .2 (1 decimal place) 846 423 5 .076 ( move decimal 3 decimal places) © Copyright NewPath Learning. All Rights Reserved. Permission is granted for the purchaser to print copies for non-commercial educational purposes only. Visit us at www.NewPathLearning.com.
Dividing Decimals: You also divide decimals the same way you divide whole numbers BUT you also need to place the decimal in the correct spot. 50.4 ÷ 2 .4 = ? (dividend) ÷ (divisor) Before dividing, we need to make the divisor (2.4) into a whole number. To do this we must: Make the divisor (2.4) into a whole number by multiplying the divisor (2.4) and the dividend (50.4) by the same number (10, 100, or 1000 for example)…but there is an easier way to do this… Easy Trick: Move the decimal point all the way to the right of the divisor (2.4) and also move the decimal point of the dividend (50.4) the SAME number of places. SO FIRST: MOVE the decimal point one place to the RIGHT in 2.4 the divisor to make it a whole number. 2 .4 becomes 24 . (24. is a whole number) NEXT: MOVE the decimal point ONE place to the RIGHT in 50.4 the dividend to make it a whole number. 50 .4 becomes 504 . (504. happens to be a whole number too) __2__ 24. | 504. - 48_ 24 __2 1 ._ 24. | 504 . - 48 24 - 24 0 50.4 ÷ 2.4 = 21.0 © Copyright NewPath Learning. All Rights Reserved. Permission is granted for the purchaser to print copies for non-commercial educational purposes only. Visit us at www.NewPathLearning.com.